92% of Canadians Believe Monopolies Are Driving Up Prices, Says Poll

Summary:

  • 92% of Canadians believe monopolies are driving up prices
  • 69% believe competition laws and regulations benefit large companies over consumers
  • 86% agree that more competition means lower prices and more choices for consumers

A recent Mainstreet Research poll conducted by OpenMedia and Ekō shows that 92% of Canadians believe that high market concentration is driving up prices across multiple sectors.

The survey also revealed that 69% of Canadians believe that competition laws and regulations favour large companies over consumers. Furthermore, 86% of respondents agree that more competition between businesses will mean lower prices and more options for consumers. The results were broadly similar across provinces and partisan lines.

Angus Wong, Senior Campaign Manager at Ekō, stated that “cost of living is skyrocketing in Canada, and one of the major causes of inflation in these two industries is a lack of competition. Five grocery chains and three telecom companies control almost all of the Canadian market.”

Polling data shows that 83% report that their internet and cell phone bills impact their monthly budget – 44% significantly so and of those who earn less than $50,000 annually, 53.9%.

The says that 72% of Canadians do not believe the government is doing enough to provide affordable and competitive telecom services.

OpenMedia Campaigns Director Matt Hatfield expressed concern over the government’s handling of the situation, saying in an issued statement that “band-aid solutions aren’t enough. The first party that offers a comprehensive solution to addressing Canadians’ frustration and dismantling our monopolies will reap the political rewards.”

“Rogers, Bell, and Telus must be taken down. Our community members know it. Our Industry Minister @FP_Champagne knows it – in fact, he stepped aside to let Rogers become the King of Canada’s Internet,” said OpenMedia on Twitter.

The OpenMedia and Ekō communities have delivered over 23,800 signatures to the federal government calling for thorough reform of the Competition Act. Their joint submission to the government’s recently closed consultation on Competition Act reform demands laws that protect Canadians and not corporate giants, government intervention to block monopolies from growing, and mechanisms to hold corporations accountable.

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db
db
3 years ago

92% of Canadians Believe Monopolies Are Driving Up Prices, Says Poll
——-
And the other 8% are employees of robelus.

Ipse
Ipse
Reply to  db
3 years ago

Or the bloated Lieberal government. I’m sure they represent more than 8%.

Snow Turkey
Snow Turkey
Reply to  Ipse
3 years ago

Ah yes, bitcoin pee pee who contradicts himself every other day is a much better option.

Curtis McIntyre
Curtis McIntyre
3 years ago

I love when they do these polls but don’t release the number of people polled so it doesn’t exactly represent the true amount of Canadians that feel either way, I was never asked about this survey but yes I do believe Monopolies are driving up cost due to Creedy corporations just wanting more money and don’t care about their customers.

CEO’s and other corporate positions etc.. do not need to be making in the excess of hundreds of millions of dollars per year to run the companies between bonuses and salaries example like Tim Cook he made well over 100 million last year if I am not mistaken.

Ipse
Ipse
Reply to  Curtis McIntyre
3 years ago

You DO realize that it’s entirely up to Apple to decide how much Tim Cook is getting paid. Absolutely NOT your call or Jack-meat’s.

Start thinking for yourself instead of regurgitating propaganda.

Fking Communism has destroyed more than economies….buyer beware.

PS. About polls and numbers: funny how we were told that the booster shots tested on 8 mice (Pfizer) or 437 people (Moderna) were “safe” and the sample was “representative”.
So a poll on 437 people represents all Canada then (assuming we’re not mice).

Curtis McIntyre
Curtis McIntyre
Reply to  Ipse
3 years ago

I was just using Tim Cook as an example and yes I am aware its up to said companies to decide how much they make but in my opinion they do not need to be making that much money!

No need to be rude back with your comment. You don’t like my comment then just down vote and move along.

Ipse
Ipse
Reply to  Curtis McIntyre
3 years ago

Did I call you names or something? Define “rude” then.
Oh, I forget, under Bill C-18 I’d be guilty of hurting your sensibility by stating that you are a parroting Lieberal and N-dee-pee talking points.

Take solace, when the bill is enacted, there is no prescription, so you can denounce me anonymously to the Ministry of truth.

I wish I was making this up.

Snow Turkey
Snow Turkey
Reply to  Ipse
3 years ago

Stop being a douche. It’s hard to take you seriously when you come off as a brainwashed right wing troll who has no idea what propaganda, socialism, communism, liberal, truth or brainwashing even means.

Keep listening to rebel media, the sun, epoch times and your social media echo chamber. You’re brainwashing yourself with that blatant misinformation nonsense.

Ipse
Ipse
3 years ago

Funny how they harp on grocery chains (I see the better variety and price choices there) without touching on Insurance, Gas stations, house builders, etc.
Almost like we’re told what to think….nah, the communist Kanukistan is a democratic country.

GaDgEtMoN
GaDgEtMoN
3 years ago

I don’t believe Canada has any true “Monopolies”. But, we do have a considerable amount of ‘Oligopolies’ that operate in a monopolistic manner, eg. our cell phone industry, Major Banks, Large scale grocers, etc.

Canada’s foreign investment policies put a strangle hold on ‘Real’ outside competition…

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